I love, love love, to read. I can't get enough of books. I love to be able to use my imagination so much in picturing the characters and the setting, etc. So I am very excited about the book club I've joined. It's a group through church that getstogether every two months (people are too busy to do more often than that) to discuss the chosen book. Because I love to read so much and just think that everyone should enjoy it as much as me, I am going to start posting the book club book so that anyone interested can read along too. Then after we have our discussion I'll post my opinions on the book (just in case you'd rather not read it until after you hear if I actually enjoyed it).
Tonight was my first discussion and it was for a book called "I Capture The Castle" by Dodie Smith. It was a cute book and I do recommend it. I loved the writing style and the story was cute and creative. I didn't love the ending, but I didn't hate it either. If you like to read, it's worth your time.
The next book, which we'll be discussing in April is "Follow the River" by James Alexander Thom. We all take turns recommending books and this book was recommended by me. So I've already read it and can tell you it's a great book. Based on a true story about a woman captured by Indians and the story of her escape. Enjoy.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Bar Keepers Friend
My mom introduced me to this amazing cleaning product a little over a year ago and now I could never live without it! It's called Bar Keepers Friend. It works wonders on anything porcelain. These are actual before and after pictures of my sink.
This is just one corner of the sink! The rest of the sink has the same scuff marks.
But...sprinkle on some of this and scrub scrub scrub, and you'll get this....
A perfectly clean sink. This is the same corner.
There is also another product that works the same way that my mom prefers, but I can't remember the name. So mom, if you could be so kind as to leave a comment letting everyone know what the other one is called.
This is just one corner of the sink! The rest of the sink has the same scuff marks.
But...sprinkle on some of this and scrub scrub scrub, and you'll get this....
A perfectly clean sink. This is the same corner.There is also another product that works the same way that my mom prefers, but I can't remember the name. So mom, if you could be so kind as to leave a comment letting everyone know what the other one is called.
As I recall it is also a little bit harder to find these. You have to go to a store like Albertsons or Safeway. But it's SO worth it!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Difference Between Us and Cows
It's calving season here on the ranch and it's got me thinking about the differences between having a baby and having a calf. I thought I'd share these thoughts with you so you can be grateful you deliver a baby and not a calf.
DELIVERY:
Cows: on the ground, in the snow, wherever....
Us: in a nice clean hospital (or house if you so choose)
PAINKILLERS:
Cows: not an option
Us: always available
SIZE:
Cows: an average calf weighs about 80lbs
Us: an average baby weighs 7lbs
AFTERBIRTH:
Cows: eat it
Us: the doctors take it away (thank goodness)
CLEANING UP:
Cows: lick their babies clean
Us: nurses take care of that
**Here are a few differences that work in favor of the cow
NURSING:
Us: baby cries to let us know he/she is hungry and then we are responsible for helping them nurse
Cows: calf walks right up to mom and helps himself
POTTY TIME:
Us: constantly changing diapers
Cows: calf goes wherever he/she pleases with no "mom, I need wiped" afterwards
DEVELOPMENT:
Us: takes up to a year or more for baby to learn to walk
Cows: calf starts walking within hours
DELIVERY:
Cows: on the ground, in the snow, wherever....
Us: in a nice clean hospital (or house if you so choose)
PAINKILLERS:
Cows: not an option
Us: always available
SIZE:
Cows: an average calf weighs about 80lbs
Us: an average baby weighs 7lbs
AFTERBIRTH:
Cows: eat it
Us: the doctors take it away (thank goodness)
CLEANING UP:
Cows: lick their babies clean
Us: nurses take care of that
**Here are a few differences that work in favor of the cow
NURSING:
Us: baby cries to let us know he/she is hungry and then we are responsible for helping them nurse
Cows: calf walks right up to mom and helps himself
POTTY TIME:
Us: constantly changing diapers
Cows: calf goes wherever he/she pleases with no "mom, I need wiped" afterwards
DEVELOPMENT:
Us: takes up to a year or more for baby to learn to walk
Cows: calf starts walking within hours
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Dinner Blunder
I was so excited for this Valentine's Day. I wanted to make Chris a really special dinner so I let him choose what he wanted. He requested shrimp. I've never made shrimp before but I thought this would be a good time to try it out. I decided on Coconut Shrimp because it's the only kind of shrimp I can actually eat. Then I decided I would try to make a few other first time items. I decided on Broccoli Cheese Soup and Seasoned Rice. We also had fresh veggies (the one thing I was confident I could make!) ANYWAY......I will never again try three new things at once. My rice turned into just plain old regular rice. My shrimp tasted okay, but not great and looked nothing like the picture! The only thing I was semi proud of was my soup. So I've decided to share the recipe.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
1/2 (10 oz) pkg frozen broccoli
1 1/4 C. milk
1 1/4 C. cubed processed cheese (Velveeta)
2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. flour
1/2 C. heavy cream
1/2 tsp. (or 1/2 cube) chicken bouillon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
chopped onion (this is optional. I added it in myself so I don't have an exact amount, but probably a tbsp or two depending on your taste)
Place broccoli in saucepan with just enough water to cover it. Cook until tender. Set aside. Do not drain water.
In large saucepan, heat milk. Blend in flour and cheese until smooth. Stir in cream, bouillon, and onion. Add broccoli and it's water. Season with salt and pepper. Heat soup to desired temperature and serve.
Serves: 4
My only other suggestion is be careful with added to broccoli water. Mine was a little too runny for my taste so I shouldn't have added it all like the recipe says. I also let it sit on low for about ten minutes before serving and that helped it thicken up.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
1/2 (10 oz) pkg frozen broccoli
1 1/4 C. milk
1 1/4 C. cubed processed cheese (Velveeta)
2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. flour
1/2 C. heavy cream
1/2 tsp. (or 1/2 cube) chicken bouillon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
chopped onion (this is optional. I added it in myself so I don't have an exact amount, but probably a tbsp or two depending on your taste)
Place broccoli in saucepan with just enough water to cover it. Cook until tender. Set aside. Do not drain water.
In large saucepan, heat milk. Blend in flour and cheese until smooth. Stir in cream, bouillon, and onion. Add broccoli and it's water. Season with salt and pepper. Heat soup to desired temperature and serve.
Serves: 4
My only other suggestion is be careful with added to broccoli water. Mine was a little too runny for my taste so I shouldn't have added it all like the recipe says. I also let it sit on low for about ten minutes before serving and that helped it thicken up.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Half Way
I've finally reached the half way mark in my pregnancy. I'm really not counting down as you'd expect....I'd rather this pregnancy be prolonged as I am really not ready to deal with two kids yet. But the half way mark is important for my stomach because this is when I slowly start to feel better. Thank goodness.
I wish I had saved my belly picture of this post because now I don't have a fun picture to share. So instead I will share this little comic. It's exactly how I feel right now!
I wish I had saved my belly picture of this post because now I don't have a fun picture to share. So instead I will share this little comic. It's exactly how I feel right now!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Sledding Party
Chris and I took Ava sledding the other day to get her out of the house. She loves the outdoors and cries to go outside but with so much snow it's hard to let her out. So we went sledding on a little hill by our house. 
Chris and I took turns taking Ava down the hill. She had a lot of fun.
Chris tried pulling Ava up the hill instead of having to hold her, but for some reason she didn't really like that. Only on the way home when dad pulled mom and her did she enjoy it. And of course, so did I!
Chris and I took turns taking Ava down the hill. She had a lot of fun.
Chris tried pulling Ava up the hill instead of having to hold her, but for some reason she didn't really like that. Only on the way home when dad pulled mom and her did she enjoy it. And of course, so did I!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Just Like Mommy
I found this on my friend Katie's blog and it was so funny I just had to steal it and put it on mine. This is not, I repeat, NOT my mommy. It is from a Baltimore newspaper and shows a picture drawn by an elementary school student and a letter/plea from her mother...Dear Teacher,
I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.
I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Fort Night
Chris built a fort a few nights ago for Ava. Her cousin Bennet has a little teepee that she loves to play in, so Chris tried to recreate it by way of a fort built with blankets and chairs. As you can see by her adorable smile she loved it!
Ava loved running in and out.
It was even big enough for the whole family to squeeze in!
Thanks for the fort Daddy!!
Ava loved running in and out.
It was even big enough for the whole family to squeeze in!
Thanks for the fort Daddy!!
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